}}{{tnr}}'''Terry Link''' is a [[Democratic]] member of the [[Illinois State Senate]], representing District 30 and serving as [[State Senate Majority Whip|Majority Whip]]. He was first elected to the chamber in 1996.

}}{{tnr}}'''Terry Link''' is a [[Democratic]] member of the [[Illinois State Senate]], representing District 30 and serving as [[State Senate Majority Whip|Majority Whip]]. He was first elected to the chamber in 1996.

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Link earned his Bachelor's from the University of Wisconsin-Stout (Formerly Stout State). His professional experience includes owning a business and working as Director of Government Affairs for Johnson Controls.

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==Biography==

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Link earned his Bachelor's from the University of Wisconsin-Stout (Formerly Stout State). His professional experience includes owning a business and working as Director of Government Affairs for Johnson Controls.<ref name=bio>[http://www.illinoissenatedemocrats.com/index.php/about-me-link ''Illinois Senate Democrats,'' "Senator Terry Link Bio," accessed February 18, 2014]</ref>

==Committee assignments==

==Committee assignments==

===2013-2014===

===2013-2014===

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At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Link served on the following committees:

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At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Link served on the following committees:<ref>[http://www.illinoissenatedemocrats.com/index.php/committees ''Illinois Senate Democrats,'' "Committee Assignments," accessed February 18, 2014]</ref>

{{Committee Assignments

{{Committee Assignments

|State = Illinois

|State = Illinois

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==Issues==

==Issues==

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===Medicaid===

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:Excerpt: "Thousands of low income people are now using emergency rooms as their primary care doctors. It is negatively impacting their long-term health as well as hospital and state finances,” Link said. “This would allow them to be covered by Medicaid with the federal government covering the cost. It’s a common sense plan that I’m happy to support.”<ref>[http://www.illinoissenatedemocrats.com/index.php/sen-link-home ''Illinois Senate Democrats,'' "Senator Terry Link News," accessed February 18, 2014]</ref>

The Illinois Opportunity Project, "an independent research and public policy enterprise that promotes legislative solutions in advance of free markets and free minds," annually releases its '''Legislative Vote Card''', grading all members in both chambers of the [[Illinois General Assembly]] on the basis of their support of "pro-growth economic policies that increase personal freedom and reign in expansive government."<ref>[https://illinoisopportunity.org/the-project/ Illinois Opportunity Project, "The Project," accessed February 21, 2013]</ref><ref name="IOP">[http://illinoisopportunity.org/votecard/ Illinois Opportunity Project, Legislative Vote Card home page, accessed February 21, 2013]</ref>

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The Illinois Opportunity Project, "an independent research and public policy enterprise that promotes legislative solutions in advance of free markets and free minds," annually releases its '''Legislative Vote Card''', grading all members in both chambers of the [[Illinois General Assembly]] on the basis of their support of "pro-growth economic policies that increase personal freedom and reign in expansive government."<ref>[https://illinoisopportunity.org/the-project/ ''Illinois Opportunity Project,'' "The Project," accessed February 21, 2013]</ref><ref name="IOP">[http://illinoisopportunity.org/votecard/ ''Illinois Opportunity Project,'' "Legislative Vote Card home page," accessed February 21, 2013]</ref>

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====2012====

====2012====

Link received a score of 37.50 out of 100 in 2012 for a grade of F according to the IOP’s grading scale. His score was tied for the 37th highest among all 59 members of the [[Illinois State Senate]] included in the Vote Card.<ref name="IOP"/>

Link received a score of 37.50 out of 100 in 2012 for a grade of F according to the IOP’s grading scale. His score was tied for the 37th highest among all 59 members of the [[Illinois State Senate]] included in the Vote Card.<ref name="IOP"/>

Biography

Link earned his Bachelor's from the University of Wisconsin-Stout (Formerly Stout State). His professional experience includes owning a business and working as Director of Government Affairs for Johnson Controls.[1]

Committee assignments

2013-2014

At the beginning of the 2013 legislative session, Link served on the following committees:[2]

2009-2010

Issues

Medicaid

Excerpt: "Thousands of low income people are now using emergency rooms as their primary care doctors. It is negatively impacting their long-term health as well as hospital and state finances,” Link said. “This would allow them to be covered by Medicaid with the federal government covering the cost. It’s a common sense plan that I’m happy to support.”[4]

Gaming license

On December 1, 2010, the Illinois Senate voted 31-20 in favor of a plan that allows for five additional casinos and electronic gaming at horse track facilities, increasing the number of licenses for casinos in the state to 15.

Under the plan, new casinos would operate in Chicago, southern Cook County, Danville, Rockford and Waukegan.

"Is it a huge expansion? Yes, I'm not going to deny it. But we have a huge deficit in the state of Illinois, we have got huge problems in the state of Illinois, so you don't look at little things to fix it, you look at big things to fix it," said the bill's sponsor, Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan.[5]

Campaign donors

Comprehensive donor information for Link is available dating back to 1996. Based on available campaign finance records, Link raised a total of $3,441,288 during that time period. This information was last updated on July 17, 2013.[14]

Scorecards

Illinois Opportunity Project

The Illinois Opportunity Project, "an independent research and public policy enterprise that promotes legislative solutions in advance of free markets and free minds," annually releases its Legislative Vote Card, grading all members in both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly on the basis of their support of "pro-growth economic policies that increase personal freedom and reign in expansive government."[15][16]

2012

Link received a score of 37.50 out of 100 in 2012 for a grade of F according to the IOP’s grading scale. His score was tied for the 37th highest among all 59 members of the Illinois State Senate included in the Vote Card.[16]